Now you can buy London travelcards in India

The next time Indians travel to London, they will be able to buy the Oyster travel card in India in rupees.

The next time Indians travel to London, they will be able to buy the Oyster travel card in India in rupees, and move around London easily on the underground or buses.

London mayor Ken Livingstone has announced a new scheme by which the go-anywhere Oyster card will be put up for sale in India in rupees, enabling tourists and others to save on foreign exchange.

The scheme to buy the electronic smartcard is part of a partnership between Transport for London (TfL), the organisation that manages London's transport, and the VisitBritain tourism organisation.

The cards will initially go on sale in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Portugal and the US. They will then be available for others on VisitBritain's online shops by March 2007.

London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, told newsmen: "Oyster is already a proven success with Londoners and this new deal will make it easier for millions of overseas visitors to get around London.

"The best way for visitors to travel around the capital is usually by public transport so this deal will provide simpler, cheaper and quicker journeys."

Kenny Boyle, VisitBritain's director of commercial and marketing services, said: "With more than 12 million visits to our overseas websites every year, TfL and other commercial organisations recognise that VisitBritain can help them reach new customers.

"The Oyster card is the smartest, quickest and cheapest way around London and it's fantastic we can now offer even greater value for money to international visitors."